JPH0199912A - Automatic packing and feeding method for tube container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the quality deterioration of a tube commodity, by accommodating a number of trays each of which receives a plurality of empty tubes as a unit in a cardboard box, removing the empty tubes from the box together with the trays, packing the empty tubes with the contents, thereafter inserting and retaining the tube commodities in trays and packing the tube commodities together with the trays. CONSTITUTION:A number of trays 3 each of which receives a plurality of empty tubes 1 as a unit is accommodated in a cardboard box 2 which is capable of accommodating a large number of empty tubes 1 in one tier or not less than two tiers with dividing plates 2 interposed therebetween. The empty tubes 1 are removed form the cardboard box 2 together with the trays 3, the trays 3 and the empty tubes 1 are separated from each other and the empty tubes 1 are sent by a conveyor 5 and a carrying body 51 to a content packing machine 4 where the empty tubes 1 are packed with the contents and made to be a tube commodity 11. The separated trays 3 are carried to a commodity inserting position by a tray magazine 6 to receive the tube commodities 11. The tubes are packaged by cartons as inner box 7 and the cartons are packed by an outer box 8.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an automatic packaging and supply method for extruded tube containers used to house toothpaste, cosmetics, medical products, foods, and other thickening agents. .

[Conventional technology]

- For products that use this type of extruded tube in a, empty tubes are taken out of a box that can accommodate a large number of them, lined up and supplied to the sealed container, filled with the contents of the empty tube, and then sealed. A predetermined number of pre-filled tube products are individually packaged in a carton case with an inner box, and the products are packaged and shipped in an outer container.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Conventionally, packaging for tube products has rarely involved integrated production of tube production and content production, such as having a vendor produce empty tubes, delivering them in a returnable box, and then filling the tubes with the contents. Because the tubes are brought into the factory in bulk boxes, the large number of tubes stored in the box may rub against each other, become dirty, or be crushed, causing not only damage to the appearance of the tubes but also damage to the contents. This often results in defective products, and even if the boxes are separated and stored, they are manually opened from the box into a hopper and then fed to the packaging process. The delivery of tubes is not carried out smoothly, causing the above-mentioned problems and deterioration of yield.Also, arranging and sorting the large number of tubes opened from the shipping box is troublesome and cumbersome work and requires manpower, so it is unmanned. There were other problems, such as not being able to make any improvements to achieve this goal, making the automatic packaging line function meaningless, and failing to increase productivity.

The present invention aims to accurately eliminate these conventional drawbacks. It uses a tray to handle empty tubes safely, and also eliminates the need for deterioration in tube quality and allows the transition to filling work to be carried out manually. We provide an automatic packaging method for tube containers that not only can be easily configured into a robotized automatic packaging line without the need for packaging, but also allows for safe and efficient handling after inner packaging and sales channels, which saves labor. It is intended to.

[Means for solving problems]

In the present invention, empty tubes inserted and stored in a shipping box that can accommodate a large number of empty tubes are taken out from the shipping box, arranged and supplied to the sealed container, and the empty tubes are filled with the contents and then sealed. In an automatic tube container supply method in which a predetermined number of sealed tube products are individually packaged in a carton case with an inner box, and the products are integrated and packed in an outer box, a plurality of empty tubes are placed in the box with a tray. After holding the tubes as one unit and storing a large number of them, taking out an appropriate number of empty tubes together with the tray from the box, and separating the tray and empty tubes, the empty tubes are filled with the contents, and the trays are filled with the contents. This is an automatic packaging and supplying method for tube containers, which is characterized in that the tube containers are transported to the insertion position for the enclosed products, the tube products are inserted and maintained in each tray, and then the trays are packed together in a carton case.

[For production]

In this method for automatically packaging and supplying tube containers, a large number of empty tubes 1 are stored in the tray 2 in a state where they are loaded upright on the tray 3, and when they are transported, opened, and brought to the robot hand, they are emptied by the picker hand 9. A plurality of tubes 1 are taken out from a box 2 together with trays 3, transferred to a conveyor 11 for conveying trays, and after the trays 3 are removed and separated, the empty tubes 1 are fed onto a conveyor 5 in an aligned state. The tray 3 separated from the empty tube 1 is sent to the tray magazine 6 by the conveyor 11, and the empty tube 1 is sent to the filling machine 4 via the holder 15 by the carrier 5I after passing through a predetermined inspection process and filled with the contents. After sealing the tube product 1. After that, the tube products are fed to the tube product loading position, and then taken out from the tray magazine 6 and loaded onto the waiting tray 3 in a stand-like manner using the picker 13, turned into a predetermined direction, and then placed in the inner box 7 at the inner image supply station. Three trays are packaged inside, and the wrapped interior drawings are further integrated into the exterior V! s
Since the trays are packed and shipped in 8-packs, the trays are used without wastage, and the empty tubes 1 and tube products 11 are handled while being safely protected, which simplifies the delivery and alignment process associated with filling operations, and reduces the need for equipment. Automatic mechanization and labor saving are easy, and packaging work efficiency can be significantly improved.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the examples shown in FIGS. A tray 3 is used to hold a plurality of empty tubes 1, for example, several empty tubes 1, in a box 2 that can accommodate a large number of them in two or more stages with After taking out an appropriate number of trays 2 and separating the empty tubes 1 from the tray 3, the empty tubes 1 are transferred to the filled tube 4 on a conveyor 5,
and carrier5. After filling the empty tube 1 with the contents, it is sealed as a product II of the filled tube, and the separated tray 3 is inserted into the tray magazine at the insertion position of the filled product. 6, the tube products 1. After charging and maintaining a predetermined number of items, they are packaged together in a carton case (interior-7), which is then packaged as an exterior made of cardboard! [! It is designed so that it can be packed in 8 pieces.

In this case, the empty tube 1 is one in which, for example, six empty tubes are fitted and planted into the tray 3 from the cap side and loaded into one unit, and each unit has a chucking function. The tube picker hand 9 handles the empty tubes 1 without requiring any human intervention, removes and separates the empty tubes 1 from the tray 3, introduces them into the empty tube feeder 10 via the tube feed conveyor 5, and then supplies them to the filling process. Ru.

Further, as the tray 3, an elastic dish-shaped pedestal made of plastic or the like, in which a plurality of recesses 31 that can fit and hold the empty tubes 1 and the camp portions of the tube product II are arranged, that is, formed into a container, is used. is formed into a slightly tapered hole to make it easier to hold the camp upright, and if necessary, a groove 32 is added to the inner circumferential surface of the hole, and the recess 3
It is preferable to make it easy for air to flow in and out of the tube 1 to make it easier to insert and remove the tube into the recess 31, and at the same time to have a proper grip function.Furthermore, it has an outer peripheral wall that can be inserted into the own device 1ii17, and has good stability.

The conveyor 11 also conveys the tray 3 from which the empty tube 1 has been removed to the tray magazine 6, and when the empty tube 1 is removed, the tray 3 is held by a vacuum or chuck mechanism 12 and then separated. It is fed to the tray magazine 6 and guided to the product insertion position for reuse. At this product insertion position, the tube products 11 with the contents sealed are sorted and arranged, and placed in a picker 13 for vacuum suction. They are inserted into and supported by the tray 3 one by one and loaded, packed into a shaped carton case 7, and packaged.

IT through empty tube 1 by robot hand! 2, the tube position is detected by a sensor 16 such as a camera, and the robot 9. After giving a position correction signal to the picker hand 9 and transferring the empty tubes 1 in plural units to the conveyor 11 for conveying trays, removing and separating the trays 3, the empty tubes 1 are aligned and transferred to the conveyor 5. If it is separated upward, it is convenient for the holder for empty tubes 1 toward the filling machine 4 and the supply cycle for the tray 3 to the tray magazine 6.

In addition, empty mailbox 2. They can be sent to a conveyor with a shovel and transported to a collection section. Inner box supply is at Station 1
7, the inner box 7 is placed over the 11 groups of tube products loaded in the tray 3 by opening the flap, and the tray 3 is packaged, and can be processed by a movable robot 19.
It is also possible to use a multifunctional robot that moves on rails to the station 18 for packaging the outer box 8.

The pinker hand 9 may have a mechanism for gripping the camp screwed onto the empty tube 1, a chucking mechanism for fitting into the cylinder of the empty tube 1, or a combination of these to facilitate holding and transfer. It is preferable to use a robot hand capable of mechanical handling, and it is convenient to use a vacuum picker to hold the tube product 1+.

In the figure, 14 is a conveyor for transporting boxes, 20 is a tube conveyor, 21 is a labeler, 22 is a label checker, 23 is a weight checker, 24 is a divider, 125 is a tube tracer, 26 is a traveling vehicle that carries tube boxes, and the interior Transport each item from the painting and exterior painting storage area. 27 is an interior drawing caser, 128 is an exterior coating caser, 129 is a case conveyor,
33 is a weighing machine, 34 is a defective product discharge device, 35 is a case lifter, 36 is a vertical conveyor, 37 is a moving cart, 38 is a rail, and 39 is a chucking part covered with urethane rubber, which are installed in large numbers in parallel on the picker hand 9. has been done. Reference numeral 40 denotes an empty tube removal mechanism having an opening/closing claw piece 41, which is reciprocated by a cylinder or the like, and is disposed opposite to the tube.

〔Effect of the invention〕

In the present invention, a plurality of empty tubes are held as one unit with a tray in a transport box, and a large number of empty tubes are accommodated, an appropriate number of empty tubes are taken out from the transport box together with the tray, the tray and the empty tubes are separated, and then the empty tubes are Empty tubes and tube products can be created by transporting the tubes with their contents sealed and the trays to the insertion position for the products with their contents sealed, inserting and maintaining the tube products in each tray, and then packing the trays together in a carton case. are handled in a safe manner, which simplifies the delivery and alignment process associated with filling operations.
It is easy to automatically mechanize equipment and save labor, and packaging work efficiency is significantly improved.In addition, empty tubes are handled safely by using trays, and there is no deterioration in tube quality and the transition to filling work is done manually. In addition, it is easy to create a robotized automatic packaging line without the need for packaging, and the handling of the interior + Ks after packaging and sales channels can be done safely and efficiently, saving labor. Automatic packaging that saves labor without quality deterioration in the storage or packaging process, allows trays to be used without waste, and can also be used as a stand for over-the-counter sales of tube products, making it possible to produce sales tubes from purchased tubes at low cost. It has the effect of significantly improving the line.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an apparatus used in an embodiment of the method of the present invention, and the first
The figure is a partial perspective view, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the box with a part cut away, Figure 3 is a plan view of the tray, and Figure 4 is the third
Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view showing the working state, Fig. 6 is a side view showing the packaging line, and Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views explaining the working state of the part. 9 are slope views of the inner and outer rain packaging parts, FIG. 10 is a detailed explanatory view of a part of the holder, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory front view of the tray conveyor. 1... Empty tube, 2... Box, 3... Tray,
4... Filling machine, 5... Conveyor, 6... Tray magazine, 7... Interior drawing, 8... Exterior drawing, 9... Tube picker hand, 10... Empty tube feeding machine ,
11...Conveyor, 12...Chuck mechanism, 13.
... Pinker. Patent applicant Lion Corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) Empty tubes that have been inserted and stored in a shipping box that can accommodate a large number of empty tubes are removed from the shipping box, lined up and fed to a filling machine, and the empty tubes are filled with the contents and then sealed. In an automatic tube container supply method, in which a predetermined number of tube products are individually packaged in a carton case with an inner box, and the products are integrated and packaged in an outer box, a plurality of empty tubes are placed in the box with a tray. are held as one unit and accommodated in large numbers, and an appropriate number of empty tubes are taken out from the box along with the tray, and the tray and empty tube are separated. 1. A method for automatically packaging and supplying tube containers, characterized in that the tube containers are transported to an insertion position for filled products, the tube products are inserted and maintained in each tray, and then the trays are packed together in a carton case. (2) The empty tubes are fitted into the tray from the cap side, and the empty tubes are removed from the tray by a tube picker hand with a chucking function in units of multiple units and then emptied via the tube supply conveyor. The method according to claim 1, which is introduced into a tube feeder. (3) The tray is conveyed to the conveyor while holding the empty tube, and after the tray is detachably held when the empty tube is removed, it is fed to the tray magazine and guided to the product insertion position. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the method is used as described above. (4) The tube products with the contents sealed are sorted and arranged, inserted and supported in the tray one by one by a picker, and packed into a shaped carton case and packaged. The method described in any one of items 1 to 3.